Marine safety light



Aug. 1, 1944. B. B. RocHEsTlE MARINE SAFETY LIGHT Filed Aug. 25, 1945 Il ii Patented Aug. l, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I i mamszgloty LIGHT Y Y Barnett B. massue,- Trentpn, N. I. Appllltill Allllllt 23s 1943, sel'lll N0. 499,675

SCiaiml.

This invention relates to a marine safety light and more particularly to a portable self-contained electric lamp energized by a dry cell battery which is automatically energized when the same assumes s.l floating position in the water.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a rugged and economical emergency water light for steamships, boats, life-rafts and the like, which may be conveniently supported in a and which may be assembled easily in the circuit connections of the entire safety light.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gravity operated mercury switch which will complete the circuit at only those times when the lens end is uppermost above a horizontal line and one which will not complete the circuit accidentally at any other times as a result of the rolling, bumping or buffeting of the boat and the safety lights carried thereon.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the more detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional viewy of the safety lamp in accordance with the invention, with certain portions thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred form of mercury switch used in the safety lamp showing an enlarged detail of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a second embodiment of a mercury switch which may be used in the assembly shown in F18. 1.

InFlg. 1 is shown a safety lamp formed of an elongated cylindrical basing. 'I'his casing may be of metal, but it is preferably formed of insulating material such as hard ber tubing. A

threaded tubular extension la is pressed into the f t. 'Ihelens cover 2 is preferably formed of transparent plastic material suchA as Lucite or Vinylite.

A circular plate Il is seated upon the end of v the tubular extension la which acts as a supporting plate for the lamp I0 and the depending bracket i2 having a horizontal flange which is spot welded tothe plate H. A Fahnestock clip Il and a resilient clip Il arey attached to the bracket I2, the latter adapted to detachably receive a gravity operated switch member ,20 to control the energization of the lamp, and the former to conveniently connect the negative lead 25 to the ground terminal of the lamp. K

The lamp is energized by one or more dry cell batteries 4 disposed at the lower end of the tubular casing I, and contact between the terminals of the battery is assured by the provision of a spring 6 at the base end thereof which maintains one end I5' Vof a metallic strip I5 in contact with one terminal of the battery, which strip of about 5'8" width is then guided upwardly against the wall of the tube for connection to'one end of the conductor 25, the other end of which is attached to the Fahnesmck clip vmounted on bracket i2. and which completes the circuit from the negative terminal of the battery to one terminal of the electric lamp Il. The opposite terminal of'- the electric lamp Il is connected to the wire 2| leading to one terminal 2| of the gravity operated switch 20. 'I'he other terminal 22 of the gravity operated switch is connected with wire 22 externally of the switch and the electrical connection of the latter to a conductor 23 leading from a metallic strap 9 which is adapted to contact the positive terminal of the battery is completed by the `lunction of the wires at a plastic wire nut 24. 'The strap 9 is maintained in position by means of an insulating battery spacer tube 8. Fiber rings l at the upper and lower portions of the tube maintain the metallic strip l5 in place against the interior wall of the tube.

An external metal ring IB is applied to the casing tube and is fitted with a hook I1 towhlch a halyard may be attached. The tube may also be clamped in a bracket mountingprovided with resilient clips at the upper and lower portions thereof to releasabiy retain the lamp in position for use and for convenient disengagement there from togetherwith any type of life-saving apparatus.

Normally the safety lamp is maintained in a reversed position from that shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the globule of mercury 28 in the mercury switch is distant from the electrodes or terminals 2l' and 22' so that no circuit continuity exists between the lamp I0, battery l, and switch 20. However. -when the safety lamp is removed from its bracket and is held in either upright such position. the lamp assumes the position shown shown in Fig. 1 and the mercury globule 28 travels to the portion of the chamber 26 concentric thereto so that any rocking of the switch' causes the mercury 28 to move in the annular portion 21 even from one side to the other, but does not splash into the upper end of the cylindrical portions 28 whereat the terminals 2l' and 22' are disposed sincethe bese of the portion 21 is entirely outside the central portion 26. Such a switch construction prevents an accidental energization of the lamp on the boat or life-raft in rough water when strict blackout conditions may be necessary to be met. At the same time, in the reversed position of the switch, an assurance of perfect contact is had. n

The mercury switch 26 must be-molded to the annular cup portion 21 superposed by the cylindrical portion 23. Another form of mercury switch which is certain and reliable in operation and which may be fabricated from glass tubing is shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment of the invention the switch 30 is formed of the cylin- I drical portion 36 in which is disposed the electrodes 3|' and 32 which are adapted to be connected in the circuit similarly to the electrodes 2i' and 22' described above. A ring or annulus 31 having its axis transverse to the stem 36 merges with 'the stem portion 36 and a globule of mercury 38 therein normally rests at the bottom of the ring portion in the inactive position form of the switch. A rocking, shaking or up-anddown movement of the switch fails to carry any of the mercury to the electrodes 3l and 32 to prevent any accidental or undesired energization of the circuit, whereas a reversal of the switch brings the mercury into the portion 36 to bridge the electrodes 3i and 32'.

The assembly ofthe metallic circular supporting plate Il, bracket l2 and clips riveted thereto in back-to-back relation lends itself to economical production on a mass basis and results in a highly economical construction. Following the insertion of the mercury switch into clip I3, thin wire may be bridged between the opposite jaws of the clip to prevent an unintentional dislodgement of the switch from the clip. Also the wire 22 leading from the assembly is easily joined to wire 23 and wire 26 is quickly connected to the assembly at the Fahnestock clip Il at the lower end of the bracket i2.

The overall dimensions of the tubular casing and lens is approximately 20", while the diameter is about 1%", which results in a suiliciently large volumetric displacement to produce the necessary buoyancy effects when the lamp is floated in water. The lamp is maintained in upright position by the provision ofthe weight afforded by the battery supplemented by the metallic closure 3. In the preferred construction, the battery l is composed of three flashlight battery 'cells of super-power grade (2l/4" x 11/4"). 0f 75 position or is permitted to float in the water in.

course. the safety light may be produced in different sizes, and the advantages of the construction disclosed herein may be realized with variations of these specific dimensions.

While I have described my invention as embodied in a specific form and as operating in a specific manner for purpose of illustration. it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest'themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of'my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A marine safety light comprising an elongated cylindrical casing, a water-tight lens closure at one end of said casingfa dry-cell battery and sealed closure therefor atthe other end of said casing, a lamp and switch assembly mounted within said casing at said first end comprising a supporting plate for said lamp and a switch bracket mounted on said plate, and a gravity operated mercury switch mounted on said bracket comprising a chamber formed with a cylindrical lamp' and battery. a body'of mercury in said chamber for bridging said terminals when the cylindrical portion is below said annular portion and adapted to rest in said annular portion when said annular portion is below said cylindrical portion without likelihood of splashing into said cylindrical portion in thelast-mentioned position, whereby the lamp is eil'ectively maintained in a deenergized state when the battery end is uppermost and is adapted to be energized upon a reversal in position of the light when the battery end is lowermost.

2. A marine safety light as set forth in claim 1 wherein the buoyancy eifect ofthe safety light in water is attained byhaving the length thereof approximately ten times its diameter and in which the dry cell battery ts closely within the lateral wall of the casing and occupies less than half of the length of the casing, whereby the safety light floats in upright position with the lens end uppermost and with the mercury switch in circuit closing condition.

3. A marine safety light comprising an elongated cylindrical casing, a water-tight closure at one end o'f said casing, a dry-cell battery and sealed closure therefor at the other end of said casing, a spacer tube and a metallic strap thereacross in contact with one terminal of the battery for retaining the battery at said last-mentioned end of said casing, a lamp and switch assembly mounted within said casing at said first end comprising a circular metallic plate for said lamp and a switch bracket depending from said plate, a pair of clips amxed to said bracket, a gravity operated switch mountedin one of said c lips including a pair of terminals adapted to be connected in circuit. with said lamp and battery and a mass of mercuryfor completing the circuit between said terminals when the lens end of the marine light is uppermost and for interrupting said circuit when the battery end is uppermost, d-circuit including a wire leading from the oth r terminal of the battery and detachably connected to said other clip. and another wire Y leading from said metallic strap connected to one of said terminals of said gravity operated switch.

BARNE'IT B. RocHEs'Im 

